Leading members of TEXMAP, the textile machinery manufacturers and representatives in Pakistan met their counterparts from TMMA,  Textile Machinery Manufacturers Association and ITAMMA the Indian Textile Accessories and Machinery Manufacturers Association during ITME India 2008 held at Bangalore.   Mr. Abbas Mooraj headed the delegation of TEXMAP accompanied by the Secretary General, Mr. K. M. Khalid and other prominent members including Mr. Zahid Majeed, Mr. Ameer Ali,  Mr. Amir Madhani, Mr. Zeeshan Noorani,  Mr. Mohsin Mukhi, Mr. Mohammad Ayyub, Mr. K.M. Iqbal, Mr. K.M. Pervez, Mr. Nasir Hafeez and Mr. Luqman Mooraj.

Mr. Amit Shah President ITAMMA with Mr. Abbas Mooraj, President TEXMAP

The objective of these meetings was to develop and forge better understanding and alliances among the key players of textile machinery industry and trade in India and Pakistan.

Meeting with TMMA members took place at the office of ITME Organising Committee office  and included  Mr. Radhakrishnan and prominent members of TMMA including Mr. G.T. Dembla, former President TMMA, Mr. Dipak Shah, Director Kusters Calico and Mr. Rajnikant Bachkhaniwala, Managing Director of Himson among others were present.

Mr. Dembla and TMMA members mentioned that Pakistan imports textile machinery from the rest of the world while only a few textile machinery categories are  allowed to be imported from India. While Pakistan was given Most Favoured Nation status by India, Pakistan has not reciprocated with the same gesture.

Mr. Abbas Mooraj stressed  that healthy and lasting relationship will depend upon trade which is mutually beneficial to both countries.  Mr. Zahid Majeed  mentioned that India gives protection to local industry while exports from Pakistan at times end up with duties several fold higher than what similar Indian products are charged in Pakistan.

Mr. K. M. Khalid suggested that quality textile products such as bed wear from Pakistan should have free market access in India which is now one of the biggest markets in the world.  Both tariff and non tariff barriers for Pakistani textile products should be removed or reduced so that Pakistan’s textile industry may also benefit from trade with India.

Immediately following TMMA meeting ITAMMA invited TEXMAP members to the Conference Centre of the exhibition for a meeting where a large number of  ITAMMA members, led by the President Mr. Amit Shah were present on the occasion to give a warm welcome to TEXMAP members from Pakistan.

Mr. K. Sundareswaran, Secretary General, organised the meeting with TEXMAP and the members present at the meeting among others were, Kaiser Mahuwala, Mr. Sanjeev Lathia, Mr. Ketan Sanghvi, Mr. Balaji and Mr. Sentil Kumar.

Mr. Abbas Mooraj  mentioned on the occasion how the NAFTA and ASEAN have become regional forces by trading together.  Looking at the present economic situation worldwide it is very important that the trade should be increased amongst the SAARC countries.

It was further decided a committee would be jointly formed by TEXMAP, TMMA and ITAMMA who will have close contact to find ways and means to strengthen bilateral trade that will be mutually beneficial to India and Pakistan.